The government of Thailand has seized the explorer yacht Atlas for what it claims are the owner’s ties to technology-related crime.
The arrest took place on December 25, three days after Thailand’s Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) issued an order of confiscation. The explorer yacht Atlas, which was docked at Phuket Island Marina, is a Darwin 102 from Cantiere delle Marche. Originally launching in 2017 as Galego (below), the 102-foot (31-meter) sold this past August to her current owner.
In the confiscation order, AMLO indicates the yacht is related to transnational call-center scams. It alleges the scams involve a Thai national, Miss Taengthai, and unnamed others. The agency didn’t identify Taengthai as the owner of the superyacht. Neither did it identify anyone else as the owner. However, investigative journalists reporting on scam call-center networks for the past few years state the owner is Benjamin Mauerberger, a South African national. Mauerberger has documented ties to Thailand government officials, including the former prime minister. Notably, AMLO seized other assets connected to networks reportedly involving Taengthai, Mauerberger, and additional individuals on December 3. Since October, AMLO has put a priority on identifying and stopping scam call-center networks.
AMLO indicates that the seizure of Atlas is temporary, valid for 90 days. It adds that it can revoke the seizure prior to that if the owner provides evidence that she is unrelated to the alleged crimes.
Atlas is made for ocean crossings and long-range cruising. Cantiere delle Marche constructed her to be capable of 4,700 nautical miles at 9½ knots, under Caterpillar power. She features walnut paneling and about seven feet (2.18 meters) of headroom throughout. The original owner requested some unusual features for a true explorer, including a foredeck pool and a fitness area on the sundeck.